Five off the beaten track places to visit in St Andrews Scotland

Today we welcome local guide Keith in beautiful St Andrews, Scotland as he shares his favourite off the beaten track destinations to explore with visitors.

Hello my name is Keith and I live in the seaside town of St Andrews, but also do tours in nearby Edinburgh. I am a bit of a foodie for starters as this is one of my passions, but I am also very broadly interested in art, culture, history and of course, living by the most famous golf course in the world, I spend time on the links! I love the opportunity of meeting so many interesting people from all over the world. It is a privilege to be a tour guide and work in places that I love and know.

Five Off the Beaten Track Place around St Andrews, Scotland

Hop on a bus!

You wouldn’t typically think of a bus ride as a highlight, but the 95 bus route meanders through the charming villages of Fife from St Andrews and down to Leven and gives exceptional views of one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland. It leaves hourly and you can stop off at any of the fishing villages for a wee walk around. They will not disappoint.

Take a short trip to the village of Crail

A visit down the coast from St Andrews to the idyllic village of Crail, a stunning medieval market town with an exceptionally beautiful harbour, blissful sea views, a small beach under the cliffs, an amazing pottery, a 17th Century inn, lobster hut and much more. The perfect place to wander!

Try the best fish and chips in Scotland

Take a visit to the fish and chips capital of Scotland, which is Anstruther. It’s also a busy market town with many interesting independent shops, a great whisky shop frequented by Prince William, the amazing gastro pub The Dreel Inn, and a great wee fish restaurant called the Rockies up at the golf course.

Explore Puffin Island

Combine exploring Anstruther with a trip out to the famous Puffin Island, the Isle of May, which is a national nature reserve open to the public April 1 to September 30, each year. The boat leaves from the port at Anstruther and takes about 45 minutes to get to the island, giving you plenty of time to wander around this wildlife haven, where over 45,000 pairs of puffins reside alongside many other species of birdlife. Of course you will probably want to satiate your hunger with a meal at the award winning The Wee Chippy afterwards and a pint in The Ship Inn.

Cycle through the most famous golf course in the world

A cycle around the paths which feed through the historic links at St Andrews. You can literally wind around the 6 golf courses on a lovely track and see the historic Old Course close up as well as the views across the Eden Estuary and St Andrews Bay. Get off and walk the West Sands beach famous for its use in the Chariots of Fire film. Maybe see some seals out on the sandbanks, a dolphin out in the bay, a birdie on the links indeed. You may even want to take a wee cold plunge in the North Sea! It is rather the fad these days, for braver souls.

Planning to explore Scotland in 2025? You can start a conversation with local guide Keith to come up with the perfect itinerary for you and your travel companions.